Cationic Polythiophene for Label-Free, Colorimetric and Fluorometric Detection of DNA

H.-A. Ho and M. LeclercUniversité Laval, CA

Keywords:conducting polymer, DNA detection, electrostatic interaction

Abstract:In order to respond to new demands and needs in modern medical diagnostics and biomedical research applications, a lot of new DNA detection approaches have been reported. However, most of these methods have the disadvantage of requiring the chemical coupling of a photoactive or electroactive tagging agent onto the target or the probe prior to detection. Some oligonucleotide-functionalized conjugated polymers have enabled the transduction of hybridization events, without labeling of the DNA target. Here we describe the use of a water-soluble, cationic polythiophene that can specifically transduce the binding of an appropriate oligonucleotide to its target into a clear optical (colorimetric or fluorometric) signal. This simple, rapid, sensitive and selective methodology does not require any chemical modification on the probes or targets.